US10146175B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Image forming apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
US10146175B2
US10146175B2 US15/228,285 US201615228285A US10146175B2 US 10146175 B2 US10146175 B2 US 10146175B2 US 201615228285 A US201615228285 A US 201615228285A US 10146175 B2 US10146175 B2 US 10146175B2
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Prior art keywords
image forming
forming apparatus
scanner
electric box
sheet
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Active
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US15/228,285
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US20170064109A1 (en
Inventor
Hiroki ISHIMITSU
Katsuhiro Hoshi
Takayuki Nishi
Kazuyuki Ito
Yoshihide Ohta
Nobuhiro Shima
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Ricoh Co Ltd
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Ricoh Co Ltd
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Assigned to RICOH COMPANY, LTD. reassignment RICOH COMPANY, LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HOSHI, KATSUHIRO, ITO, KAZUYUKI, NISHI, TAKAYUKI, OHTA, YOSHIHIDE, SHIMA, NOBUHIRO, ISHIMITSU, HIROKI
Publication of US20170064109A1 publication Critical patent/US20170064109A1/en
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Publication of US10146175B2 publication Critical patent/US10146175B2/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
    • G03G21/1642—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements for connecting the different parts of the apparatus
    • G03G21/1652—Electrical connection means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/80—Details relating to power supplies, circuits boards, electrical connections
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
    • G03G21/1604—Arrangement or disposition of the entire apparatus
    • G03G21/1609—Arrangement or disposition of the entire apparatus for space saving, e.g. structural arrangements
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
    • G03G21/1604—Arrangement or disposition of the entire apparatus
    • G03G21/1619—Frame structures
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/00519—Constructional details not otherwise provided for, e.g. housings, covers
    • H04N1/00538—Modular devices, i.e. allowing combinations of separate components, removal or replacement of components
    • H04N1/00541—Modular devices, i.e. allowing combinations of separate components, removal or replacement of components with detachable image reading apparatus
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/04—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
    • H04N2201/0077—Types of the still picture apparatus
    • H04N2201/0094—Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Definitions

  • Example embodiments generally relate to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium.
  • Related-art image forming apparatuses such as copiers, facsimile machines, printers, or multifunction printers having two or more of copying, printing, scanning, facsimile, plotter, and other functions, typically form an image on a recording medium according to image data.
  • a charger uniformly charges a surface of a photoconductor; an optical writer emits a light beam onto the charged surface of the photoconductor to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor according to the image data; a developing device supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor to render the electrostatic latent image visible as a toner image; the toner image is directly transferred from the photoconductor onto a recording medium or is indirectly transferred from the photoconductor onto a recording medium via an intermediate transfer belt; finally, a fixing device applies heat and pressure to the recording medium bearing the toner image to fix the toner image on the recording medium, thus forming the image on the recording medium.
  • Such image forming apparatus may include a driver mounted on a rear face of the image forming apparatus and an electric box mounted on the driver and extended vertically.
  • the electric box may increase the depth of the image forming apparatus, increasing the location area where the image forming apparatus is located.
  • At least one embodiment provides a novel image forming apparatus that includes a scanner to read an image on an original and an electric box disposed below the scanner and extended horizontally with respect to the scanner.
  • the electric box includes an electric cabinet having a box shape and an electrical device disposed inside the electric cabinet.
  • FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a monochrome image forming apparatus according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a color image forming apparatus according to another example embodiment of the present disclosure
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a comparative image forming apparatus
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a frame of the image forming apparatus depicted in FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the frame of the image forming apparatus depicted in FIG. 5 ;
  • FIG. 7A is a plan view of an electric box incorporated in the image forming apparatus depicted in FIG. 1 , illustrating a basic substrate layout of the electric box;
  • FIG. 7B is a plan view of the electric box depicted in FIG. 7A , illustrating an optional substrate layout of the electric box;
  • FIG. 8 is a perspective bottom view of the electric box depicted in FIG. 7A ;
  • FIG. 9 is a perspective bottom view of a scanner incorporated in the image forming apparatus depicted in FIG. 1 .
  • spatially relative terms such as “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper”, and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, a term such as “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein are interpreted accordingly.
  • first, second, and the like may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, it should be understood that these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or section from another region, layer, or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer, or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer, or section without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 1 an image forming apparatus 2 according to an example embodiment is explained.
  • FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the image forming apparatus 2 .
  • the image forming apparatus 2 may be a copier, a facsimile machine, a printer, a multifunction peripheral or a multifunction printer (MFP) having at least one of copying, printing, scanning, facsimile, and plotter functions, or the like.
  • the image forming apparatus 2 is a monochrome copier that forms a monochrome toner image on a recording medium by electrophotography.
  • the image forming apparatus 2 may be a color copier that forms a color toner image on a recording medium.
  • the image forming apparatus 2 may form an image on a recording medium by inkjet printing.
  • FIG. 1 a description is provided of a construction of the image forming apparatus 2 .
  • the image forming apparatus 2 includes an auto document feeder (ADF) 14 and a body 4 .
  • the body 4 includes a scanner 6 , an electric box 16 , an output tray 8 , an image forming device 10 , and a paper tray 12 .
  • the scanner 6 is disposed in an upper portion of the body 4 and serves as an image reader that reads an image on an original.
  • the output tray 8 is disposed in the upper portion of the body 4 and below the scanner 6 .
  • the output tray 8 serves as a sheet output portion or a sheet receiver that receives a sheet bearing a toner image that is ejected from the image forming device 10 .
  • Below the output tray 8 are the image forming device 10 and the paper tray 12 detachably attached to the body 4 .
  • Above the scanner 6 is the ADF 14 serving as an automatic document feeder that automatically feeds the original to the scanner 6 .
  • the image forming apparatus 2 may also serve as a printer in which the image forming device 10 forms a toner image on a sheet according to image data sent from an external device such as a client computer. Yet alternatively, the image forming apparatus 2 may also serve as a facsimile machine.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 2 .
  • the image forming device 10 includes a photoconductive drum 40 serving as an image bearer.
  • a charger 41 uniformly changes an outer circumferential surface of the photoconductive drum 40 .
  • An exposure device 42 forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive drum 40 according to image data.
  • a developing device 43 visualizes the electrostatic latent image as a toner image.
  • a feed roller 45 picks up and feeds a sheet P serving as a recording medium from the paper tray 12 to a registration roller pair 46 .
  • the registration roller pair 46 conveys the sheet P to a transfer nip formed between the photoconductive drum 40 and a transfer device 47 at a given time when the toner image formed on the photoconductive drum 40 reaches the transfer nip.
  • the transfer device 47 transfers the toner image formed on the photoconductive drum 40 onto the sheet P.
  • a cleaner 48 removes residual toner and the like failed to be transferred onto the sheet P and therefore remaining on the outer circumferential surface of the photoconductive drum 40 therefrom.
  • a fixing device 49 including a fixing roller 49 a heated by a heater and a pressure roller 49 b, for example, fixes the toner image on the sheet P.
  • An output roller pair 50 ejects the sheet P bearing the fixed toner image onto the output tray 8 .
  • the output roller pair 50 rotates reversely to convey the sheet P to a conveyance path 51 such that a trailing edge of the sheet P having been conveyed from the fixing device 49 to the output roller pair 50 becomes a leading edge of the sheet P conveyed from the output roller pair 50 to the conveyance path 51 .
  • a conveyance roller 52 conveys the sheet P to the registration roller pair 46 which conveys the sheet P to the transfer nip at a given time when another toner image formed on the photoconductive drum 40 reaches the transfer nip.
  • a bypass tray 53 which is opened and closed with respect to the body 4 , loads one or more sheets P.
  • a toner bottle 44 serves as a toner supply that supplies fresh toner to the developing device 43 .
  • the image forming apparatus 2 depicted in FIG. 2 is a monochrome image forming apparatus that forms a monochrome toner image on a sheet P.
  • the image forming apparatus 2 may be a color image forming apparatus that forms a color toner image on a sheet P as illustrated in FIG. 3 .
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 2 S.
  • the image forming apparatus 2 S includes a tandem image forming device 10 S including four image forming units (e.g., process cartridges) aligned horizontally in FIG. 3 .
  • the four image forming units include four photoconductive drums 60 Y, 60 C, 60 M, and 60 K serving as image bearers, respectively. Suffixes Y, C, M, and K denote yellow, cyan, magenta, and black, respectively, as colors of a developer used to form a toner image.
  • An intermediate transfer unit 62 is disposed opposite the photoconductive drums 60 Y, 60 C, 60 M, and 60 K of the image forming units, respectively.
  • the intermediate transfer unit 62 includes an intermediate transfer belt 61 (e.g., an endless belt) serving as an intermediate transferor.
  • the intermediate transfer belt 61 is rotatably looped over a plurality of support rollers 63 , 64 , 65 , and 66 .
  • the intermediate transfer belt 61 is driven and rotated in a rotation direction L.
  • a tension roller 67 presses against an outer circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt 61 to exert tension to the intermediate transfer belt 61 .
  • the photoconductive drums 60 Y, 60 C, 60 M, and 60 K are driven and rotated clockwise in FIG. 3 while the photoconductive drums 60 Y, 60 C, 60 M, and 60 K contact the outer circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt 61 .
  • a charging roller 68 charges the outer circumferential surface of the first photoconductive drum 60 Y disposed upstream from the photoconductive drums 60 C, 60 M, and 60 K in the rotation direction L of the intermediate transfer belt 61 at a given polarity.
  • An optical writing unit 69 serving as an exposure device emits an optically modulated laser beam onto the charged outer circumferential surface of the photoconductive drum 60 Y.
  • a developing device 70 visualizes the electrostatic latent image as a yellow toner image.
  • the primary transfer roller 71 As a primary transfer roller 71 is applied with a transfer voltage, the primary transfer roller 71 primarily transfers the yellow toner image formed on the photoconductive drum 60 Y onto the outer circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt 61 driven and rotated in the rotation direction L. After the primary transfer of the yellow toner image from the photoconductive drum 60 Y onto the intermediate transfer belt 61 , a cleaner 72 removes residual toner failed to be transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 61 and therefore remaining on the outer circumferential surface of the photoconductive drum 60 Y therefrom.
  • cyan, magenta, and black toner images are formed on the second photoconductive drum 60 C, the third photoconductive drum 60 M, and the fourth photoconductive drum 60 K, respectively, and primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 61 successively such that the cyan, magenta, and black toner images are superimposed on the yellow toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 61 .
  • the yellow, cyan, magenta, and black toner images superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 61 constitute a color toner image.
  • the paper tray 12 serving as a sheet feeder is disposed in a lower portion of the body 4 .
  • the registration roller pair conveys a sheet P sent from the paper tray 12 to a secondary transfer nip formed between the intermediate transfer belt 61 and a secondary transfer roller 73 at a given time when the color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 61 reaches the secondary transfer nip.
  • the secondary transfer nip is formed between a portion of the intermediate transfer belt 61 that is supported by the support roller 63 and the secondary transfer roller 73 disposed opposite the support roller 63 .
  • the secondary transfer roller 73 is applied with a transfer voltage, the secondary transfer roller 73 secondarily transfers the yellow, cyan, magenta, and black toner images constituting the color toner image and superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 61 onto the sheet P collectively.
  • the secondary transfer roller 73 is pressed against the support roller 63 via the intermediate transfer belt 61 .
  • the secondary transfer roller 73 is driven and rotated clockwise in FIG. 3 while the secondary transfer roller 73 contacts the outer circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt 61 .
  • the sheet P bearing the color toner image is conveyed to a fixing device 74 that fixes the color toner image on the sheet P under heat and pressure.
  • An output roller pair 75 ejects the sheet P conveyed from the fixing device 74 onto the output tray 8 that stacks the sheet P.
  • Toner bottles 76 Y, 76 C, 76 M, and 76 K supply fresh yellow, cyan, magenta, and black toners to the developing devices 70 , respectively.
  • residual toner failed to be transferred onto the sheet P remains on the intermediate transfer belt 61 .
  • the intermediate transfer unit 62 further includes a belt cleaner 77 that removes the residual toner from the intermediate transfer belt 61 .
  • FIG. 3 illustrates the image forming apparatus 2 S employing a tandem intermediate transfer method.
  • the image forming apparatus 2 S may employ a tandem direct transfer method or a construction in which a plurality of developing devices surrounds a single photoconductive drum.
  • the first comparative image forming apparatus is requested to be downsized to reduce a location area where the first comparative image forming apparatus is located.
  • the first comparative image forming apparatus used as a desktop machine is requested to reduce the location area more than the first comparative image forming apparatus used as a medium print speed machine or a high print speed machine located on a floor.
  • the first comparative image forming apparatus includes a driver and an electric box.
  • the driver is mounted on a rear face of the first comparative image forming apparatus that is opposite a front face of the first comparative image forming apparatus that serves as an operation face facing a user who uses the first comparative image forming apparatus.
  • the electric box extends vertically.
  • a length of the electric box may be decreased in a depth direction of the first comparative image forming apparatus to reduce the location area where the first comparative image forming apparatus is located.
  • the location area defines a projection area projected in a height direction of the first comparative image forming apparatus.
  • a first example of the first comparative image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a scanner, a support, and an output tray.
  • the scanner serving as an image reader is disposed above the image forming device.
  • the output tray is interposed between the scanner and the image forming device.
  • the support disposed below the scanner accommodates a part of electrical devices of the scanner, utilizing a region occupied by the support that supports the scanner.
  • a second example of the first comparative image forming apparatus includes a plurality of electrical devices, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) board and a power supply board that are interposed between the image forming device and the output tray. Since the output tray is tilted, the CPU board and the power supply board are situated in a restricted space disposed on an upstream portion of the output tray in a sheet ejection direction.
  • CPU central processing unit
  • a part of the electrical devices is situated in a space defined between the image forming device and the output tray. Accordingly, the length of the electric box mounted on the rear face of the first comparative image forming apparatus and extended vertically is shortened, reducing the location area where the first comparative image forming apparatus is located. However, since a part of the electrical devices is accommodated in the redundant space, the location area of the first comparative image forming apparatus may not be reduced sufficiently.
  • the comparative electric box accommodates a plurality of substrates that controls various electric or electronic parts, such as a motor, a solenoid, and a sensor, situated inside the second comparative image forming apparatus.
  • the plurality of substrates is secured to the comparative electric box with screws and the like.
  • a driving unit incorporates a motor and a gear box that control and drive rollers and belts that constitute a layout of parts used to convey a sheet and form a toner image.
  • the driving unit is mounted on a rear face of a body of the second comparative image forming apparatus.
  • the comparative electric box is mounted on a rear face of the driving unit.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second comparative image forming apparatus 2 C.
  • the second comparative image forming apparatus 2 C includes a comparative electric box 82 mounted on a rear face of the second comparative image forming apparatus 2 C that is opposite a front cover 80 serving as an operation face facing the user who uses the second comparative image forming apparatus 2 C.
  • the comparative electric box 82 extends vertically. Thus, the comparative electric box 82 facilitates assembly and maintenance.
  • the second comparative image forming apparatus 2 C further includes a scanner 84 and an output tray 86 .
  • the second comparative image forming apparatus 2 C has a length S in a depth direction of the second comparative image forming apparatus 2 C.
  • the driving unit and the comparative electric box 82 mounted on the rear face of the driving unit increase a depth of the second comparative image forming apparatus 2 C, thus increasing a location area where the second comparative image forming apparatus 2 C is located.
  • a length w of the comparative electric box 82 may be decreased in the depth direction of the second comparative image forming apparatus 2 C to reduce the location area where the second comparative image forming apparatus 2 C is located.
  • the comparative electric box 82 is needed to drive the second comparative image forming apparatus 2 C, downsizing of the second comparative image forming apparatus 2 C is restricted.
  • a width direction X, a depth direction Y, and a height direction Z of the image forming apparatus 2 define directions seen from the user facing a front face serving as an operation face of the image forming apparatus 2 , respectively.
  • the electric box 16 is disposed above the output tray 8 and below the scanner 6 .
  • the electric box 16 extends substantially horizontally (e.g., horizontally). Since the electric box 16 is disposed inside an electric box container, the electric box 16 is not visible from an outside of the electric box container.
  • the electric box 16 is disposed below the scanner 6 and extended horizontally unlike the comparative electric box 82 mounted on the rear face of the second comparative image forming apparatus 2 C as illustrated in FIG. 4 . Accordingly, the electric box 16 eliminates the length w in the depth direction Y depicted in FIG. 1 that is equivalent to the length w of the comparative electric box 82 in the depth direction of the second comparative image forming apparatus 2 C depicted in FIG. 4 . Consequently, the electric box 16 reduces a location area where the image forming apparatus 2 is located substantially.
  • the whole electric box 16 accommodating a plurality of electrical devices collectively, not a part of the electrical devices, is within a projection area projected in the height direction Z, thus reducing the location area where the image forming apparatus 2 is located substantially.
  • the electric box 16 depicted in FIG. 1 increases a height of the image forming apparatus 2 by a height of the electric box 16 in the height direction Z.
  • the electric box 16 extends horizontally, the height of the electric box 16 barely degrades the external appearance and operation of the image forming apparatus 2 .
  • the rear face of the second comparative image forming apparatus 2 C depicted in FIG. 4 mounts the comparative electric box 82 , the center of gravity of the second comparative image forming apparatus 2 C is biased.
  • the electric box 16 depicted in FIG. 1 extends horizontally, preventing the center of gravity of the image forming apparatus 2 from being biased.
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a frame of the image forming apparatus 2 , eliminating components disposed inside the image forming apparatus 2 .
  • the image forming apparatus 2 further includes a front plate 18 and a rear plate 20 opposite the front plate 18 . The user faces the front plate 18 while the user operates the image forming apparatus 2 .
  • FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the frame of the image forming apparatus 2 .
  • the electric box 16 includes an electric cabinet 22 having a box shape and a plurality of electrical devices disposed inside the electric cabinet 22 .
  • the plurality of electrical devices includes a controller board (CTL) 24 and an image forming device control board (BiCU) 26 .
  • the CTL 24 includes a controller board that drives the scanner 6 and the image forming apparatus 2 .
  • the electric cabinet 22 is made of a material (e.g., a sheet metal) that blocks an electric wave generated by the controller board and the like to shield an outside of the electric box 16 from the electric wave.
  • the electric cabinet 22 prevents the electric wave from adversely affecting the scanner 6 and the like.
  • the electric cabinet 22 bridges or spans the front plate 18 and the rear plate 20 and is coupled to the front plate 18 and the rear plate 20 . Accordingly, the electric box 16 is coupled to the frame, enhancing the rigidity of the frame.
  • FIG. 7A is a plan view of the electric box 16 , illustrating a basic substrate layout of a plurality of substrates, that is, a plurality of electrical devices.
  • the basic substrate layout without an optional electrical device includes at least the CTL 24 (e.g., the controller board) and the BiCU 26 (e.g., the image forming device control board). Since the CTL 24 and the BiCU 26 generate an electric wave when the image forming apparatus 2 is in operation, the CTL 24 and the BiCU 26 are placed inside the box made of the sheet metal. Alternatively, the CTL 24 and the BiCU 26 may be coupled to one or more optional substrates.
  • FIG. 7B is a plan view of the electric box 16 , illustrating an optional substrate layout incorporating a plurality of optional substrates.
  • the CTL 24 is coupled to a facsimile board (FCU) 28 and a hard disc drive (HDD) 30 as needed.
  • the BiCU 26 is coupled to an illegal copy guard board (ICIB) 32 and a billing interface board (MKB) 34 as needed.
  • ICIB illegal copy guard board
  • MKB billing interface board
  • the substrate installed in the electric box 16 includes an element, such as a semiconductor, and is heat sensitive.
  • the electric box 16 is disposed above the output tray 8 serving as a thermal insulation space that protects the electric box 16 from heat generated by the fixing device 49 depicted in FIG. 2 that is heated most within the image forming device 10 .
  • the electric box 16 is disposed above and spaced apart from the image forming device 10 through the output tray 8 serving as a thermal insulation space interposed between the image forming device 10 and the electric box 16 .
  • the output tray 8 suppresses conduction of heat from the image forming device 10 to the electric box 16 .
  • the image forming apparatus 2 has a configuration described below.
  • FIG. 8 is a perspective bottom view of the electric box 16 .
  • the electric box 16 disposed above the output tray 8 may receive heat from the fixing device 49 and the sheet ejected onto the output tray 8 .
  • an insulator is mounted on a bottom of the electric box 16 that is disposed opposite the output tray 8 .
  • the insulator insulates the electric box 16 from heat conducted from the fixing device 49 and the sheet ejected onto the output tray 8 .
  • an insulation sheet 36 serving as an insulator is attached to a bottom face 16 a of the electric box 16 .
  • the bottom face 16 a of the electric box 16 further mounts a heat exhaust duct 38 which exhausts heat conducted from the image forming device 10 thereto toward an outside of the image forming apparatus 2 .
  • the heat exhaust duct 38 which exhausts heat conducted from the image forming device 10 thereto toward the outside of the image forming apparatus 2 also insulates the electric box 16 from heat conducted from the sheet ejected onto the output tray 8 like the insulation sheet 36 .
  • the scanner 6 is detachably attached to the electric box 16 . If the substrate installed in the electric box 16 suffers from failure, the substrate is removed for repair or replacement. A service engineer accesses an interior of the electric box 16 to install an optional substrate. To address those circumstances, the scanner 6 is detachable from the image forming apparatus 2 to allow the service engineer to access the electric box 16 readily.
  • FIG. 9 is a perspective bottom view of the scanner 6 .
  • a bottom face 6 a of the scanner 6 mounts a plurality of legs 6 b projecting toward the electric box 16 .
  • the service engineer may remove the scanner 6 from the image forming apparatus 2 to perform maintenance on the substrate placed inside the electric box 16 .
  • the legs 6 b allow the service engineer to temporarily place the scanner 6 on a mount (e.g., a table) safely and stably. As the legs 6 b contact the mount, the scanner 6 is placed on the mount stably, preventing the scanner 6 from being damaged or broken.
  • each of the legs 6 b includes an elastic member made of rubber or the like or a mold member.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates one leg 6 b made of the mold member and two legs 6 b made of rubber as one example.
  • a sheet metal constituting the bottom face 6 a of the scanner 6 may be treated with drawing process to produce the legs 6 b molded with the bottom face 6 a.
  • the legs 6 b may be molded with the bottom face 6 a.
  • an interior space of the electric cabinet 22 is used as an accommodating space that accommodates the legs 6 b of the scanner 6 .
  • the legs 6 b are mounted on the bottom face 6 a of the scanner 6 without a space allocated for the legs 6 b projecting toward the electric box 16 .
  • an image forming apparatus (e.g., the image forming apparatuses 2 and 2 S) includes a body (e.g., the body 4 ) that accommodates a scanner (e.g., the scanner 6 ), a sheet receiver (e.g., the output tray 8 ), and an electric box (e.g., the electric box 16 ).
  • the scanner is disposed in an upper portion of the body.
  • the sheet receiver is disposed below the scanner.
  • the electric box is disposed above the sheet receiver and below the scanner and extended horizontally with respect to the scanner.
  • the electric box includes an electric cabinet (e.g., the electric cabinet 22 ) having a box shape and an electrical device (e.g., the CTL 24 and the BiCU 26 ) disposed inside the electric cabinet.
  • the image forming apparatus reduces a location area where the image forming apparatus is located sufficiently.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Electrophotography Configuration And Component (AREA)
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US15/228,285 2015-08-28 2016-08-04 Image forming apparatus Active US10146175B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2015169518A JP2017044994A (ja) 2015-08-28 2015-08-28 画像形成装置
JP2015-169518 2015-08-28

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US20170064109A1 US20170064109A1 (en) 2017-03-02
US10146175B2 true US10146175B2 (en) 2018-12-04

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EP3147713A1 (de) 2017-03-29
US20170064109A1 (en) 2017-03-02

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